I've always been someone who has stayed focused. I am known for working too many hours, having a great GPA, and saving money. However, I needed something more than the President's list and a nice check. I needed an adventure.
My best friend's middle name is Adventure. Her spirit has taken her many places, so I was not surprised when she wanted to move across the United States. She landed a bomb internship and was headed West. We had mentioned me tagging along for the road trip. Did I mention it was 27 hours? Which we did in three days. Anyways, I was hesitant. I would have to purchase a plane ticket to come home, pay for some meals, and so forth.
Wednesday night I spent the night with my best friend. We were attempting our farewells till October, but I just could not yet. We ended up talking till 2 a.m. and somehow started looking at plane tickets for me.
Thursday morning, I woke up with the whole YOLO motto going on. I made the most expensive purchase of my life -- $358 for a plane ticket from Denver to Atlanta. I think I closed my eyes when I hit the submit button. Oops! This did not include my luggage.
Friday morning, I was jumping into my best friend's car with my suit case to travel the country. We stopped in Nashville and ate lunch. We were back on the road, afterwards. We went through Kentucky while singing, "My Ole Kentucky Home." Then through a small portion of Illinois. We finally made our stop for the night in St. Louis, Missouri.
I was able to see Nashville for the first time, revisit Kentucky and reminisce on so many memories from National FFA Conventions, get a glimpse of Illinois, and visit the St. Louis Arch for the first time.
Day two. Some of you might know, but St. Louis is on the far east side of the state. We had to go through all of Missouri (It's a lot bigger than you think) and then through Kansas. Did I mention Kansas has innovations in agriculture that I had never seen before in person? They have huge windmills that generate energy. Hence, they have a lot of wind. I know why they call it tornado alley. We called it a night in Hayes, Kansas.
Day three. We got an early start because we still had a lot of ground to cover. We were needing this to be the last day of traveling. We made it to Colorado -- finally. Yes, we took the glorious picture of us at the state line, as well as every other state sign along the way.
Anyways, I traveled. I spent hundreds of dollars, but I took an opportunity that was well worth the cash. I was able to see Nashville, the home of country music. I was able to see the beautiful country side of Kentucky. I was able to travel in the town where the National FFA was established. I was about to see the Rocky Mountains (which included a moose, elk, and the cutest chipmunks). These are all opportunities I wouldn't have had by saving money. More importantly, I wouldn't have had time I had with my best friend. Those are memories I will always cherish. This being my first summer home, and her first summer gone, my heart aches a little letting her go, but I can't wait to see how her journey unfolds.
Though it might hurt to press the submit button on the plane ticket -- do it! You truly only live once. Save your money and travel this summer. Try the off-brand, grab a kids meal, turn in all your lose change. Do whatever it takes to get outside the corners of your home state.
P.S. I can now tell you all, the money was worth it. I would totally do it again.
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The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
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